I didn't hear my wife's question before she opened her computer, but I did hear her audible confusion (announced with a What the hell??) when she became aware of my recent search history, as The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pole Dancing was prompted in her search bar. To explain: a couple weeks ago I wrote about serendipitous encounters, and almost included the true story of a young man who stopped in for a flight here over a year ago. He stayed an hour or so, quietly reading at the bar, and when he closed out, he closed his book to reveal the aforementioned cover title, an instructional manual for exotic dancing. Staff were caught off guard with eyebrows up, mouths open. He responded with the enthusiasm of good fortune: "I know, right??... I can't believe someone just left this on their stoop! What a score!".

I didn't intend for my last newsletter to be continued, but I got to thinking about it after I hit send. While I do delight in some universal magic at play and find wonder in the curious encounters mentioned in that last post, I feel equal awe and admiration for those who make their luck. My mother met one of her best friends 40 years ago by randomly sitting in an empty seat next to Gabby. But Gabby's husband and my father became friends for a different reason. After the wives connected, it took some time to see if their husbands would click. But it wasn't the planned social visits or any double-date that did it. Gabby set me straight about it years ago. Shortly after she and my mother met, they were moving houses and she said my dad had offered to help. Her husband had a lot of friends and a crew from work that he said would be there. He thanked my dad for the offer but insisted they had plenty of hands. My dad said he'd maybe swing by anyway, and if not needed he'd just head back home. On the morning of the move, no one showed up. Hangovers, flat tires, wrong date, you get the idea. Gabby beamed when she got to this part of the story: "And there was Bob Schmidt, standing there bright and early, ready to go, ready to help ...".

I have countless stories to evidence how proud and fortunate I am to have the father I do, but I was thinking of this one this morning, on his birthday. Here's to those open to magic and wonder when it walks through the door, or sits down beside us. But more so, here's to those who will this simple magic into existence. Who commit to being the wonder, the relief, the joy. Who align the stars when we need them.

Happy Thursday,

Daniel